Parent Teacher Groups

I think either a parent is interested or they aren't.. I'm not interested in that one little bit so there is nothing you can do that would spark that interest. I appreciate that you want to be there and participate in it all but I have no interest in that.

My fear with things like this is getting in over my head. So I only volunteer for things with well-defined parameters. If I know exactly what I'm expected to do, I'm more likely to say yes.

Here are two sample requests from this year:
1) "Choose and bring in one activity for your child's class Halloween party, which will take place on Oct 31 from 2-3PM." Yes, I can do that.
2) "Help out with the family olympics in the gym on April 26." I have no idea what this actually means or what the time commitment is, so no, I will not volunteer for this.

I am usually more likely to volunteer or help out when I am asked personally and specifically.

I would send out an email explaining that the PTO is relaunching and setting up an organizational meeting. I do NOT attend our PTO meetings because they are always scheduled either in the morning or late morning at our school. 100% ridiculous for working parents and to me very clearly expresses that the PTO is not interested in working parents of either gender. If you want volunteers, I would schedule meetings in the evening (that is when they were when I was in elementary school) and make a BIG point of welcoming fathers as well as mothers. I would also make a list of SKILLS you are looking for (organization, spread sheet competency, etc) as well as estimated time commitments. And if you can make a lot of it doable via e-mail or phone calls it will help. I would be a lot more willing to commit to say lining up 10 parents to volunteer for a book fair and soliciting 3 book companies than I would be to an open ended - help with the book fair description.

Have you ever heard of Sign-Up Genius? It really is genius! ;) They have a website and you can go on and create a profile, etc. It's basically used to get people to sign up for stuff via email and it even sends the person a reminder all on it's own.

My daughter's school uses it for various things and it really makes it easy for people to know what is needed, how to help, when to help, etc. Even if parents can't physically be there, they can sign up to send something in or donate money or whatever. You could also have teachers ask parents to sign up for a day when they would be willing to work from home for them, like cutting out stuff or working on a project or something.

Our PTA is pretty active in our school but if you ever went to an actual meeting of the PTA you would never know it! NO ONE shows up for the meeting (which is horrible) but they really get a lot done, and this is one of the ways.

I also agree that you need to network, people need to be asked in person for specific tasks for some things. People are less likely to turn you down that way, plus you can build a rapport so that later you just need to send an email to get them to do it.

Facebook pages are also a good idea.

Can you go to the other PTO meetings (for the other schools) and plead your case? We see the same sort of attrition in our school system, but 4th grade is pretty early for parents to be burnt out of volunteering. In our school system, the K-2 PTAs are ridiculously active, and the 3-5 is still active but not insanely so. The 6-8 PTA limps along, but that's because there isn't much that needs to be done because at this age, there are a lot of student-run organizations that take care of some of the things that the PTA does in the younger grades, and parent volunteers are not needed (or welcome) in the classroom.

I learned to step back in the youngest grades because there were a ton of eager volunteers and I give my time to the 3-5 PTA and next year, when I again have a child in middle school, I'll be active in that one as well.

I think that at this point in the year, the focus should be on starting off next year with a bang. Go to meetings at the younger schools - there are probably participants who have kids at the grade 4-5 school who would be moved to help if they knew what the stakes are, or who have 3rd graders now who will expect the same level of participation and partnership in 4th grade. Publicize a year-end meeting at which officers for the next year will be elected, and be sure that the officers know that they will need to meet with the principal and teachers (or some teacher reps) before the end of the school year to put together a plan for the following year. Then the officers can work together over the summer to put together a calendar of events, recruit committee chair people, and get momentum for a kick-off meeting when school starts.

My guess would be that if things are that bad, it's a problem with the school administration. A principal who prioritizes parent involvement wouldn't allow this to happen. Things don't just fizzle out for no reason, they fizzle out because the leaders got the message that their work wasn't needed, wanted or valued. Perhaps that's something that happened recently, or perhaps it was years ago, but somehow, at some point, enough people got the message that this wasn't important that it came to a halt. If that's the case, make sure that the principal and teacher's are 100% on board with having a more active PTO and find out what their goals are. How do things like enrichment programs get funded without a PTO? How about year-end activities, family nights, a math league or science team, student-of-the-month programs, a school store, the book fair, field day, etc. happen without a PTO? Does that stuff just not happen?

Our middle school went through a lull some years ago. The principal and staff didn't really seem to value or welcome a parent-teacher organization, so it was more or less defunct. Luckily, enough passionate parents felt that they weren't ready to remove themselves from their children's education that 6 years ago, the organization was revived and there is now a strong partnership between the organization and the school. The PTO helps fund the purchase of library materials, brings in speakers to talk to parents about things like internet safety and drug use, offsets the costs of field trips, pays for school-wide enrichment programs like speakers or presenters, pays for field day, etc. Even though the students run their own clubs, fundraisers and social functions, there is still a place in their school for the level of organization and fundraising that only adults can manage.

Good luck to you!

I was really skeptical about volunteering for the PTO because I was very worried it would be too much and take up too much time. I was convinced to help out at first when they needed someone to just help a little. One of the ladies on the PTO just needed a little help with her duties from another mom. It was very light work and didn't require much commitment. After I started doing this, then I realized how little time it actually took and I started taking on more responsibilities. Eventually I became the secretary of the PTO and took notes at meetings and joined the book fair committee. Once I knew more about events I could pick and choose which ones to help out at. So, there was my mindset. Getting me started was a hurdle because I was really afraid it would take up too much time. So, if you can offer very small, easy jobs to parents that feel manageable to them you may be able to attract more people.

Create a Facebook group. My kids started at a new charter this year, brand new so no one really knows each other and no existing structure. Most of the grades created grade level specific Facebook groups. They have been a lifesaver in communicating with parents and getting volunteers for the grades.

Some people probably have kids in multiple grades and may be getting the same requests to volunteer in all three (PK-K-1) (2-3)(4-5). Perhaps some of these parents volunteered to help when their older children were in PK-K-1) and now want to also support their younger children as they start school. Perhaps that is why you have help at the lower grades and not in the higher grades. Some older kids are embarrassed when mom or dad show up in their classroom. Being involved always gave me a chance to get to know the teachers, the school administration, meet the kids my kids knew at school and some of their parents. I suggest you get to know some of the parents and ask them what they can do to help. Break down tasks so people don't feel overwhelmed with a commitment. You might also check to see if there is a Senior Center nearby. Perhaps you could get a few volunteers to help with popcorn day. Good luck -- and thank you for making a difference for all the kids.

I am not an organized person and know myself well enough to know I should not be in charge of anything. I do go to all pro meetings. .because I like to get the inside scoop on what the pto had planned for the kids. .I met a few moms that way. ..and honestly go now more to visit with them after. So I guess enlisting u r friends and a personal appeal is best.

Also being very specific. 2 for decorating collection bins..2 to empty them and take to wherever..1 to print fliers. Make ad much manageable as u can for those working

My daughter is in private school, so we receive hours for volunteering, with a bill at the end of the year to pay the balance.

With that, I have helped the same amount of hours. I just don't have time and don't really care to be in the classroom. I help with other functions.

What we do is log our hours in an application https://www.x2vol.com/index.html. With that, I suggest you break things into smaller jobs that can be handled by a busy mom who doesn't mind helping here and there. Take hope jobs are nice too. As well, it gives people the opportunity to help out within their profession. I don't want to chaperone the junior high school dance, but I don't mind photographing the kids. I did that last year and I had 4 helper moms. All went well.

It's so great that you are willing to help out- even in the face of such frustration! I found the same to be true, when kiddos are in early grades there are a lot more volunteers, it always seems to wane as kids get older. Lots of parents go back to work once kids are out of kindergarten, and then interest just fades or people feel that there are cliques or whatever and don't want drama.

I like some of the suggestions so far- here are a few more (hope they aren't repeats).

-ask the teacher if you can put out a sign up sheet at back to school night. she can talk up the need for volunteers, and you can have sheets ready for specific parties/events that folks can sign up for right then. double bonus because you aren't asking for a huge commitment, just one party or whatever.

-have a wide variety of ways to help. when DD was in elementary, the teacher had many volunteer opportunities that could be done at home. the working moms loved this because they could do it on their time. same for parties- could someone make baggies of candy at home and send them to school with their child or drop them off at your home?

Someone mentioned the fear of being overwhelmed. I get this. I love volunteering, but I don't want to overpromise or be inundated the entire year, that would freak me out. Break things down into bite size pieces, ask for the teachers help in putting things out at back to school or during P/T conferences, and reach out to the community if you need to!

Good luck!